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After a uranium fuel rod reaches the end of its fuel cycle why does most of its energy come from plutonium fission?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Initially for new fuel made from uranium enriched to about 5 percent U-235, all the fission energy comes from the U-235, the U-238 plays almost no part in this. As power production proceeds, the U-235 gets used up, we say burnt up though don't imagine it is like fossil fuel burning. In the same time period the U-238 is capturing some neutrons and some of it is transmuted to Pu-239 which is also fissile and therefore starts to produce some power. Thus as one fissile component, the U-235, is burnt up, the other one, the Pu-239 increases. Eventually, despite the Pu formation, the fuel just does not have enough fissile material to support the chain reaction, and it has to be discharged and replaced with new fuel. This is done on a part reactor basis, ie you might replace one quarter of the fuel assemblies every two years, for example (don't take that as applying in all cases). The decision on this depends on many factors but some physics calculations have to be run to advise the locations to be changed.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What Metal used in nuclear reactions?
Nuclear energy appears as heat in a nuclear reactor. It comes from the fission of uranium or plutonium
How do you use uranium and plutonium to generate electricity?
Under nuclear fission with thermal neutrons uranium release an enormous quantity of energy (202,5 MeV per one atom of 235U); the obtained heat is converted in electricity. The same answer for plutonium (excepting the energy per fission).
How do uranium and plutonium provide heat energy?
The radioactive decay and the nuclear fission of uranium release a great quantity of energy, including thermal energy.
An energy source that heats fuel rods is?
Nuclear Fission.Generally Uranium, but some reactors use Plutonium nuclear fission.
What is nuclear energy released by?
In fission reactors, which are the only ones we have at present for useful power, energy is released by the fission of the nuclei of the nuclear fuel, usually uranium-235, but sometimes plutonium-239.
Energy resource that is based on fission?
uranium and plutonium
How does nuclear energy originate?
In a fission reactor, it originates from the fission of uranium 235 or plutonium 239
Which form of energy is released by uranium and plutonium in an atomic reactor?
This is the formidable energy of the nuclear fission.
What is the direct source of energy?
In fission reactors, which is the only practicable source of energy at present, it is the fission of the nuclei of uranium and plutonium which produces the energy
What is the direct source of nuclear energy?
In fission reactors, which is the only practicable source of energy at present, it is the fission of the nuclei of uranium and plutonium which produces the energy
What Metal used in nuclear reactions?
Nuclear energy appears as heat in a nuclear reactor. It comes from the fission of uranium or plutonium
How is nuclear energy produced from uranium and plutonium?
The fission energy is transformed in heat and heat is transformed in electricity.
What is nuclear weapons in which enormous energy is release by nuclear fission?
Fission bombs. They use one or more of 3 fuels: Uranium-233, Uranium-235, or Plutonium-239.
How do you use uranium and plutonium to generate electricity?
Under nuclear fission with thermal neutrons uranium release an enormous quantity of energy (202,5 MeV per one atom of 235U); the obtained heat is converted in electricity. The same answer for plutonium (excepting the energy per fission).
How do uranium and plutonium provide heat energy?
The radioactive decay and the nuclear fission of uranium release a great quantity of energy, including thermal energy.
Was plutonium used in nuclear weaponry?
Yes, plutonium IS used in nuclear weaponry it is one of the two fission fuels (the other is enriched uranium) that provide the energy for the explosion. Traditionally plutonium has been the prefered fission fuel, as it is less expensive to manufacture in quantity with nuclear reactors than is enriching uranium and also has a lower critical mass than enriched uranium. However because plutonium is manufactured in reactors it is "contaminated" with heavier plutonium isotopes that have high rates of spontaneous fission and are more radioactive, making it unsuitable for a few bomb designs for which enriched uranium must be used.
An energy source that heats fuel rods is?
Nuclear Fission.Generally Uranium, but some reactors use Plutonium nuclear fission.
